Rocking device for baby carriages and the like



Aug. 7, 1962 M. FREDMAN 3,048,419

RocKING DEVICE FOR BABY CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 8, 1960 FIG-4 IO\` Inn /27 Y g JNVENTOR. @QW/ v4 MARTHA FREEMAN ,8 Fie@ E MM AT TORNEY United States Patent C M 3,048,419 ROCKING DEVICE FR BABY CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE Martha Fredman, 3948 N. Murray Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. Filed Dee. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 74,567 11 Claims. (Cl. 28d- 31) This invention relates to apparatus for generating a vibratory motion, and more particularly to a device for imparting a rocking motion to a baby carriage, bassinet or crib, and especially the body thereof.

It is well known that babies, and especially infants, tend to be quieted by motion generally and particularly a rocking motion. As a consequence, mothers often rock babies in their arms and when the weight of the baby becomes burdensome or if it is necessary for the mother to perform various tasks, she may place the baby in a cradle or carriage of some type and impart a rocking motion thereto either continuously or intermittently depending upon the availability of her time. In either event, this requires considerable time and attention of the mother.

It would, accordingly, be advantageous if some device or arrangement were available to automatically impart such a rocking motion to a cradle or carriage and which would not require the constant attention of the mother, and an object of this invention is to provide such a device.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a device which may be removably secured to a cradle or carriage, a baby carriage for example, and which may be actuated when desired to impart a gentle rocking motion thereto.

Still another object is in the provision of a device operative to develop or generate a vibratory motion, and which is adapted to be secured to the handle structure of a baby carriage having a body supported on springs and which cooperates with such springs and transmits therethrough a rocking motion to the body of the baby carriage.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described, which is compact, convenient to operate, and

which may be attached and used by a mother who does not have any particular or well developed mechanical skills. Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specication develops.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in Which- FIGURE l is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of such device shown in combination with a baby carriage, such carriageV being illustrated by broken lines;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a side view in elevation of the device with portions of the casing thereof broken away to reveal certain constructional features otherwise concealed by the casing; and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

The exemplary form of the device illustrated in the drawing includes an outer longitudinally extending casing l@ defining a compartment therewithin, and the casing may have a generally semi-cylindrical conguration with an arcuate bottom wall 11 as shown. This casing is equipped with a top wall 12, and mounted therewithin and secured thereto is a casing or enclosure 13` that contains a conventional motor means (not shown) therein. Such motor means may take any of the usual forms, and therefore may be electrically energized either by 3 ,MSA l 9 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 battery and/or A.C. current from a convenience outlet, or lmay be mechanically energized as by means of a manually wound spring as is the case in the specific Iillustration. A drive mechanism is :actuated by the motor means, and such drive mechanism includes a rotatory cam 14 mounted upon a drive shaft 15 which extends upwardly through an opening therefor in the casing wall 12 and is rotated by the motor means.

The casing 10 has a pair of end walls 16 and 16 respectively equipped `with inwardly extending bearings 17 and 17 which respectively support a shaft member formed by two'shaft segments .18 and 18. It will be apparent that the two shaft segments extend through openings provided therefor in the end walls '16 and 16', and such openings respectively communicate with the bearings 17 and 17 and are longitudinally aligned, as are the bearings, so that the shaft segments have a common longitudinal axis and have portions thereof located both interiorly and exteriorly of the casing. Mounted upon the shaft member for reciprocable movement along the axis thereof is a weight or mass member 19 having a longitudinally extending passage 20 therethrough that receives the shaft member. The mass member 19 may have a generally semi-cylindrical configuration conforming to that of the casing l0, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 5.

The mass member 19 is substantially shorter than the casing 10, and interposed between the ends of the mass member and casing are a pair of resilient cushions in the form of coil springs 2.1 and Z1 which respectively seat against the casing wall `16 and adjacent end wall 22 of the mass member and end wall 16' of the casing and adjacent wall 22 of the mass member. These springs tend to bias the mass member 19 toward a predetermined or intermediate position along the length of the shaft defined by the segments 18-18. Exteriorly of the casing 10, the shaft segments are respectively provided with stop members 24 and 24', which take the form of pins extending through the associated shaft segments and may be secured in place by a press tit or any other suitable means.

Located between the stop 24 and outer surface of the end wall "16 is a resilient cushion in the form of a helical spring 25; and similarly, a resilient spring 2S is interposed between the stop 24 and outer surface of thel casing end wall 16. The springs 25--25 being constrained against movement in outward directions by the stops tend to bias the casing 10 toward .a predetermined or intermediate position relative to the shaft member. It may be noted that While the shaft member could be an integral component from end to end thereof, it is convenient to segment the same as shown so that the device readily accommodates its mounting on various structures irrespective of dimensional differences therebetween.

By referring to FIGURES 3 through 5 in particular, it will be seen that the drive mechanism comprising the rotatory cam 14 also includes a cam follower 26 in the form of a pin which is secured to the mass member 19 and extends upwardly therefrom for engagement with the cam I4. The particular cam `shown is generally circular, as seen in FIGURE 3, and is equipped with one or more ears 27 that extend radially outwardly therefrom for engagement with the cam follower 26 as the cam is rotated by the motor means. Therefore, if the cam 14 rotates in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 3, one of the ears 27 will engage the cam follower 26, and the mass member 19 will then be reciprocated toward the left until the ear rotates free of the cam follower, whereupon the mass member 19 will be reciprocated toward the right as the spring 21 decompresses.

The inertia of the mass member 19 in its movement sof-ionic toward the right will compress the spring 2l until the motion of the mass -member is terminated, and as the spring Ztl decompresses the mass member 19 will be reciprocated toward the left. Such reciprocatory movement of the mass member will continue to be enforced thereon by the springs 2i and 2l until the elastic energy successively stored therein during each compression diminishes to zero as a consequence of the various friction losses, heat losses, etc. that are present in any mechanical system of this type. However, before such condition of equilibrium is reached, the `same or another one of the ears 27 will be rotated into engagement with the cam follower 26 by continued rotation of the cam 14 which is under control of the motor means, and the mass member 19 will again be positively reciprocated toward the left to continue the cyclic operation of the reciprocatory mass member.

For the purpose of mounting the apparatus on a structure to be rocked thereby, the outer ends of the shaft segments 18 and i8' are respectively equipped with clamp elements 28 and 2S which may be employed, for example, to secure the apparatus between the legs 29 and 29 of a generally U-shaped handle structure of a baby carriage having `a wheel-equipped frame to which the handle structure is secured, and which resiliently supports a body 3Gl by means of a plurality of springs 3l. The clamp structures may each include a `stationary jaw 32, a movable jaw 33 pivotally or hingedly secured thereto, and a threaded bolt 34- pivotally secured to the stationary jaw 32 and adapted `to move into a recess provided therefor by the jaw 33, whereupon the jaws may be clamped together by a wing nut 3S which cooperates with the threaded bolt 3d.

if the motor means is a spring motor, a key 36 or similar winding device extending outwardly from the enclosure l will be provided for winding the spring when necessary; and though not necesary, an on-off control (not shown) may be included for stopping `such motor before the spring is completely unwound if this should be desired. Also, such an on-oxf control will be provided if the motor means is electrically energized.

in mounting the apparatus between the legs 29-29 of the carriage handle structure, one of the clamps (the clamp 2S for example) will first be loosely secured to the leg 29, and then the clamp structure 28 will be secured to the leg 29'. It will be appreciated that the springs Z5 and 25 normally bias the shaft segments i8 and 1S outwardly so that it will usually be necessary to displace the shafts toward each other to shorten the distance between the clamps 23 and 28 in accomplishing the described mounting procedure.

Since such inward displacement of the shaft segments is accomplished against the biasing force of the springs 2S and 2S', the distance between the clamps may be shortened until the ends of the shaft segments l-ld come into abutment with each other within the interior of the mass member 19. Further, the springs 25 and Z5 will automatically effect a centering of the casing fr@ along the shaft member irrespective of the precise distance between the clamps. Thereafter, the springs 2l and 21 will automatically cen-ter the mass member 19 relative to the position of the casing 10.

When the motor means is actuated, it will energize the reciprocatory motion of the mass member 19 which, because of its cyclic reciprocation, imparts a vibratory motion to the carriage handle structure, and such vibratory motion will be transmitted to the body Sti through the various springs 31 which implement such vibratory motion in a manner resulting in a gentle rocking motion being present in the body 30.

While in ythe foregoing `specilication an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making an adequate ydisclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the -spir-it and principles of the invention.

I claim:

l. in combination with a baby carriage having a wheelequipped frame, a body resiliently mounted upon said frame and a handle structure connected with said frame for manipulating the carriage, a longitudinally extending shaft secured to said handle structure, a mass member mounted upon said shaft for reciprocable movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, resilient cushion structure mounted upon said shaft in engagement with said mass member and tending to bias the same toward a predeterned position along said shaft, and motor means enerig reciprocatory movement of said mass member a.ong said shaft, `whereby reciprocatory movement of said mass member imparts a vibratory motion to said handlestructure and frame which delivers a rocking motion to said body.

2. in combination with a baby carriage having a wheelequipped frame, a body resiliently mounted upon said frame and a handle structure connected with said frame for manipulating the carriage, a longitudinally extending shaft secured to said handle structure, a mass member mounted upon said shaft yfor reciprocable movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, a pair of resilient cushion structures respectively mounted upon said shaft at opposite ends of said mass member and in engagement therewith and tending tobias the same toward a predetermined position aiong said shaft, and motor means energizing reciprocatory movement of said mass member along said shaft, whereby reciprocatory movement of said mass member imparts a vibratory motion to said handle structure and frame which delivers a rocking motion to said body.

3. ln combination with a baby carriage having a wheelequipped frame, a body resiliently mounted upon said frame and a handle structure connected with said frame for manipulating the carriage, a longitudinally extending shaft secured to said handle structure, a mass member mounted upon said shaft for reciprocable movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, a pair of resilient cushion structures respectively mounted upon said shaft at opposite ends of said mass member and in engagement therewith and tending to bias the same toward `a predetermined position along said shaft, motor means for energizing the treciprocatory movement of said mass member, and a drive mechanism having cooperative elements respectively connected with said motor means and mass member for energizing the reciprocation of Said mass member upon actuation of said motor means, whereby reciprocatory movement of said mass member imparts a vibratory motion to said handle structure and frame which delivers a rocking motion to said body. Y

4. The combination of claim 3 inV which said shaft is equipped with releasableV clamp members for removably securing the shaft to said handle structure.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which said pair of resilient cushion structures each comprises a coil spring.

6. The combination of claim 3 in which said motor means comprises a spring motor.

7. In apparatus adapted to impart a rocking motion to the body of a baby carriage having a handle-equipped frame spring-supporting the body thereon, a longitudinally extending shaft adapted to be mounted upon said handle structure, a mass member supported by said shaft for reciprocable movement therealong, a pair of resilient spring structures respectively mounted upon said shaft in engagement with opposite end portions of said mass member and tending to bias the same toward a predetermined position along said shaft, a pair of stop members respectively secured to said shaft adjacent the opposite end portions thereof and in engagement with the associated spring structures and providing a seat therefor, and motor means for energizing the reciprocatory movement of said mass member.

8. The `apparatus of claim 7 which further comprises a drive mechanism having components respectively connected with said motor means and mass member for energizing the reciprocatory cycle of said mass member upon actuation of said motor means.

9. 'The apparatus of claim 8 in which said drive mech- `ansm comprises ya caml follower connected with said mass member and -a rotatory cam connected with said motor means.

l0. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said motor means comprises a spring motor.

11. The apparatus of `claim 7 which `further comprises `a longitudinally extending casing dening a chamber containing said mass member therein, and in which each of said spring structures comprises a pair of coil springs one of which is seated between said casing and the associated end of said mass member :and tine other of which is seated `against said casing and the associated stop member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 652,896 Johnson et al. July 3, 1900 10 2,635,898 Silverman Apr. 21, 1953 2,649,167 Strom et al. Aug. 18, 1953 

